Monday, September 23, 2013

A few weeks ago, my colleague told me about a technique called 'modge podge'
I've heard from this technique before, I knew it was a kind of glue but I didn't quite know how to use it
So I started searching!

I went on Pinterest and I found all sorts of projects ..
U can use for just about anything! A whole new world opened up for me!!

I found this blog where this blogger made a silhouette canvas, using modge podge and old magazines

This gave me an idea!

Because I'm in to using old book pages I decided to use these

You will need these things:

* a canvas
* paint (i used acryllic)
* silhouette ( i used regular paper, but it's easier to use vinyl because it comes of easier after painting)
* a (piece of) sponge
* old book
* scissors
* white glue 1:1 water and a jar to stur it in

I started with making my own modge podge. After a little bit of googling I learned that u can make your own modge podge. It's actually very easy (and cheap)!

I used an empty jar, white glue and an equal amount of water as the glue. I stirred it in the empty jar and I got my own home made modge podge !

Step 1:
I cut op some old book pages in smaller pieces

Step 2:
(I used a brush, but some of the hairs felt of, so I will use a sponge in the future)
I spread a thin layer of the modge podge onto the canvas. Not to much, because the paper u will have wrinkeld paper when your done... as did mine :(

The bookpages modge podged to the canvas

Step 3:
I modge podged the old book pages onto the canvas. I stuck everything nicely together and let the pages overlap. Remember to the edge too! Or else you have this weird looking side when you hang your canvas up on the wall.

Step 4:
Let it dry overnight

Step 5:
Put another layer of modge podge over it, and let it dry again

Step 6:
Cut out your silhouette and place them on the canvas on the place you like to have them. See if you like how it looks. If not, adjust the silhouettes until you do like it.

Step 7:
I mixed my black and white acryllic paint, untill it became the color grey I wanted it to be. After that, I started painting. I mad sure the paint was think enough so the text on the pages didn't shine trough. Be careful that you don't move the edges of the silhouette! Remember to do the edges of the canvas to!

Step 8:
Luckily for me, acryllic paint dries really soon. I couldn't wait to take of the silhouettes and see how my project has turned out!

And this is how it turned out!

If you want, you can put another layer of modge podge on, but you don't have to if you let it hang indoors...

Friday, September 13, 2013

All year long, I've had this idea that I wanted to paint my old dresser. I've had it for years but my boyfriend finds it a very ugly thing. I actually love that is has drawers of a perfect size. I actually can put stuff in in !!

Because I didn't want to have the hole house smelling like paint, i decided i wanted te wait untill the wether gets better and i could paint outside.

And yes! We have had a GREAT summer. So when I was have a non busy weak at work, i decided it was time to get started with my dresser
I was soooo excited!

Offcourse, I love pinterest! There are so many fun and good ideas on there, that I didn't quite know how to choose what I wanted to do with my dresser.
I thing was clear, and that was that I certainly was going to use paint!

The first step was to remove all the handles. Unfortunatly the dresser was cheap and some of the handles where glued to the front of the drawers.

The second (and most unfun step of the wholo project) was taking a piece of sandpaper and start sanding te dresser. I sande the whole outside of de dresser. Of the drawer I only did the front becauce I didn't want to risk that the drawers woudn't close because of all the layers of paint.

The third step:
After I sanded the whole dresser, I took a damp cloth to whipe off al of the dust from sanding. I waited untill the dresser was dry.

Painting:

The fourth step:
My first coat of paint was a primer. I primed te front, the sides, te top of dresser and individualy the fronts of the drawers.

In the mean time I decided to give it a try to make my own chalkboard paint. I wanted the dresser to be white and grey. I had a bag of spare tile grout laying and a martha stewarts site I sounded realy easy to make it myself.

I had two tubes of acrylic paint, 1 white and 1 black
I mixed the two together in a empty yar until I had the color grey I wanted. After i did that, i added 3 spoons of tile grout.
Offcourse my inpatient self, want te get started paint as soon as possible!
So i started painting.
I noticed that the paint wasn't smooth but i was rough. It was not what I inteded, but I extually really liked it!! I decided not to use a paint roller, but to use rough brushes.

After i was done painting the dresser had a rough look, and i turned out better that I thought.

But I was wundering where I went wrong. I found out, that I probably went wrong by using normal tile grout instead of non-sanded tile grout!
So next time, If am going to do a DIY project withe home made chalkboard paint, I get some non - sanded and stirr a whole lot more !! Lesson learned ;)